1550s Calvinism was gaining strength among French peasants and created a small, semi- independent state
To meet this threat the Guises assumed leadership of the Catholics and then the Bourbons assumed leadership of the Calvinists who were 1/12th of the population, splitting the country apart
In 1559 Henry II died leaving the throne to Catherie de Medici and was powerless due to the fighting between the monarchs that were closely related to the throne
Fighting
==
The fighting began in 1562 and lasted for 36 years with Catherine switching sides whenever a party became too powerful. When Catherine switched sides again and made peace with the Huguenots (Calvinists) in 1576. In response to that action the Guises formed the Catholic league, which dominated the eastern part of France
In 1584, the Catholic League allied with Spain's Philip II to attach in France and deny the Bourbon Henry's legal rights to inherit the throne, due to the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 the Spanish could no longer support their duke and Henry of Navarre inherited the throne as Henry IV (1589-1610)
Peace Restored
Due to the revolts in eastern France the Catholic League collapsed in the 1590s and Henry IV renounced Protestantism in 1593 to win acceptance by his Catholic subjects. The next year he had himself crowned king and France was happy because he beat back the Spanish invasion. He issued a peace treaty in 1598 and he also issued the Edict of Nantes.
Civil War in France
Fighting
==The fighting began in 1562 and lasted for 36 years with Catherine switching sides whenever a party became too powerful. When Catherine switched sides again and made peace with the Huguenots (Calvinists) in 1576. In response to that action the Guises formed the Catholic league, which dominated the eastern part of France
In 1584, the Catholic League allied with Spain's Philip II to attach in France and deny the Bourbon Henry's legal rights to inherit the throne, due to the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 the Spanish could no longer support their duke and Henry of Navarre inherited the throne as Henry IV (1589-1610)
Peace Restored
Due to the revolts in eastern France the Catholic League collapsed in the 1590s and Henry IV renounced Protestantism in 1593 to win acceptance by his Catholic subjects. The next year he had himself crowned king and France was happy because he beat back the Spanish invasion. He issued a peace treaty in 1598 and he also issued the Edict of Nantes.